On Saturday I raced the NYRR Mini 10K for the 3rd time in so many years (2012 and 2011 recaps). It’s not easy to find 6.2 mile races around this area, especially through New York Road Runners, so it seems to always be a good goal race. It’s right before marathon training truly starts and the distance allows me to push “my speed” some while also not being in full sprint mode like I am for repeats or a 5k race. I love that for a month or so I can focus and I end up having a strong base to begin marathon training.
However, I wasn’t really confident in my abilities this year after a less than stellar few weeks of training. Yes, Bo and I did a great job of staying active during our Turkey and Switzerland adventures and I logged a few workouts during the work travel to San Francisco and Seattle but at the end of the day flying over 25,000 in a month time period can leave you exhausted regardless of how much water you drink, number of workouts, or healthy meals. However, Saturday morning I woke up after a few glasses of wine and a delicious home cooked dinner with my in-laws and decided to give the race every ounce of effort and enjoy myself. If nothing else at least it’s hard not to smile when one is wearing this much neon.
I have an amazing running coach who continues to motivate me daily both by her accidental PRs and her attitude. On Friday, while we emailed and texted back and forth about the race plan, she reminded me that I’m stronger than I think and that I have sub 9 inside of me for at least a few miles. While I think in a perfect world those sub 9 miles would come later in the race, like oh maybe mile 5, I’m not complaining with my new shiny PR which now tops my Mini 10K race history!
- 2013: 57:57 9:20 pace per mile
- 2012: 1:00:15 9:43 pace per mile
- 2011 1:01:36 9:56 pace per mile
So now that I’ve let you all in on the news that I set a new PR, let me give you a glimpse into how it happen. Keep in mind, do as I say not as I do. Therefore, one should always strive to negative split. However, when you’re tired and unsure of what your body can do running as fast as possible is a whole lot easier.
I met Katie, my awesome running buddy who is looking to mingle with new running friends after my July 11th move, in the Times Warner Center around 7:30 before we headed into the corrals. We had time to chat and stretch in the corrals while enjoying some epic people watching. Everyone was so pumped for the race. There were teenagers running in neon and cool shades while the elite were walking right by us ready to take their place in the front. The energy was contagious and with temperatures in the mid 60s it was the coolest Mini 10K on record! Combine that with some great jams (LOVING Daft Punk, Bastille, Icona Pop, and will.i.am right now) on the iPod and a running bud who promises to push you makes for a great race.
I went light for this race, running without water, phone, or fuel so I don’t have pictures to share with you or even conscious thoughts since I definitely zoned out for parts of the race. Though Jen caught this picture of us running around mile 3 which pretty much summarizes the way I felt in the early miles. Also, note to self, wear more supportive running bras.
Mile 1: Running is amazing! Look at all these powerful women. I’m so glad I wore my compression socks. My legs feel great. This cool weather needs to last for the entire race. Quick glance at watch to ensure we’re keeping a pace we can maintain reveals 8:20. Oh, hello. Rack my mind to decide which approach I want to take. Decide to give it all I have and can always recover in the middle.
Mile 2: I tell Katie to prepare for some hills as we are approaching the start of Harlem Hills. She smiles and says she’s loving the race so far so I smile back and tell her that we’ll keep up the pace. Icona Pop comes on just as I glance down at my watch finishing mile 2 and see that we kept a 8:28. Right at this moment I start to wish this was a 5k race.
Mile 3: Okay we crushed that hill so just one more big one. I tell myself that I can start grabbing water in this mile so focus on the water station’s arrival instead of the hills. Catch myself rapping Ludacris out loud. Oh well. Grab water and see that we’re at a 8:53 pace. I’m fine with this.
Mile 4: Coming into this mile my body starts to feel the pain. I just sprinted the first half and am left pretty empty. I tell Katie that I’m going to slow it down big time to ensure I can finish strong and that she can leave if she wants. I still don’t know whether she laughed or yelled bullshit but regardless she stayed at my side. I remember what Gia told me and lean into the down hills letting gravity do its job. Feel like we’re keeping a good pace but notice that we’re at a 9:30. Ugh. Really?
Mile 5: Start to get negative in my head because 9:30 is a number I didn’t want to see. To make matters worse Katie misread the sign and tried to tell me we only had a mile left. Ha. But then I realize that was only in the initial race plan which included negative splits. I get out of my head and focus on people watching. I see people I recognize from other races, the gym, a blogger, and then oh hello co-worker. Watch beeps with 9:43.
Mile 6: This race really needs to be done. My legs are screaming and my left quad is straight angry. I grab more water and pour it on my wrists and in my mouth. The humidity is definitely present and I know we have some rolling hills in this mile before the final uphill. I barter with myself. I know I have a PR in the bag and know that reaching the stretch goal is pretty impossible. I want to walk. It’s hot. But then I tell myself that this is when I prove my strength to myself. A year ago I would have walked. This year I trudge through saying that anything is better than walking or stopping. I look down and see 9:39.
Mile 6-6.2: Why does this race always end on an evil uphill. Let’s see if I see anyone on the sidelines. Oh wait there is Leanne – it’s sprint time. Uhoh, that’s a dry heave. Hold it down Ashley, that will make for an ugly race picture. Look at watch to see the time and give Katie a huge, sweaty hug! We did it! None of the pain matters now because I pushed through and achieved my goal of setting a new PR while leaving myself hungry for the stretch goal Gia set for me of a 57:00 10k.
So there you go. Do as I say (negative split, train hard) and not as I do (push it for as long as you can). But more than anything, reach deep and believe you can do it. There is someone out there who knows you can do it!
Yay for PR’s!! It was so exciting to get to cheer on so many fabulous ladies. And tell Katie to look me up when she is in need of a new running partner 🙂
Thanks again Jen for taking the pictures!!!
amazing!!!!! great job – teach me your wayssss 🙂
My ways are to push hard. You are fast too miss thing!! 🙂 Oh and drinking wine also helps!
I <3 this recap!
Thanks banana friend! 🙂
YAY!! I love seeing your thoughts mile by mile … that 57 min 10K is going to happen, as well as all of your other goals. You are becoming a racer and I love love love being a part of your runner’s journey.
Thanks Gia! With your help I think we’ll definitely be able to do it! Especially once I’m back to regular training!
Congrats on your PR! It’s one of my favorites and such a great race.
Thanks Abby! I had so much fun and love this race too!
Awesome job! I am running my first 10k this weekend (i think). I might bail on the race but we will see 🙂
Good luck Sana! Have fun and don’t bail!
First of all, congratulations on that PR! My fastest 10k time is just under 1h, so 58:30, and so far I have only managed to achieve that on a treadmill.
And amen on the ‘reach deep’ – my new running mantra when things get tough is to ‘dig deep’, maybe weird but so effective!
Thanks Sophia! Dig Deep is such a great mantra for anything! Also 58:30 is great, especially on treadmill!
We have very few 10K races in my area as well. TONS of 5ks though. Congrats on your PR! I’ll be adding you to my Way to Go Wednesday post today.
I love the name of your blog Heather!! I need a beach today 🙂 Thanks for adding me to the post!
Congrats Ashley!! Love the running attire!
Thanks Meghan!
I would love to find another 10k to try and beat my previous tmes. I’ve been doing fast treadmill runs once/week to try and increase my speed and push myself and feel that uncomfortable feeling, and this week, i ran my fastest ever 5k distance on the treadmill at 26:29. I know that isn’t fast for most but I was psyched!
Lauri do not compare yourself to other people!! Congrats on such a great time! You’ll find a 10k and ROCK IT!
Congratulations! 10K is a hard distance to run. You gave it your all and have a new PR! Awesome job!
Congrats on the PR! I feel like those PR’s you earn in races that are TOUGH are even more worth it! I ran the Oakley 10k too and definitely didn’t have a PR day (was pacing a friend coming off of a knee injury) but had a ton of fun nonetheless. I’ve never run a NYRR race and I really enjoyed it!
I wish I’d known you were running Sarah! It is so fun to do a large women’s race! You friend is lucky to have a great friend to help pace her!
Wow! Nice recap as always. You are really amazing! BTW, what brand of compression socks are you using? 😉
Thanks Julia! I’m wearing http://procompression.com/
Thanks! 😀
You really nailed it. I enjoyed reading this every step of the way. I’m planning to join my first 10k and you gave me an idea of sharing the would be experience too.
Great job! Congrats on your PR – you’ve been going 110% lately and running a race has to be pretty tough on little energy. 10k are an evil breed – that is for certain. That dry heave at the end always means you ran hard 😉